Can't speak for LA, but in NY atheism isn't even that common. It's more that people's social circles revolve around things other than church: say, the people who live on their block or in their building, or cousins and extended family, or the parents of their children's friends, or just folks who are the same ethnicity and speak the same language. Church still seems pretty damned popular here, but 50% of folks can't be bothered to wake up early on a Sunday because there's plenty of other opportunities to socialize through the week.

impaler:Ennuipoet: Because the country is 90% self identified theist and even the Democrats aren't dumb enough to embrace those percentages.

/Member of the Godless Untouchable Caste in America

Polls asking "would you vote for a [BLANK]", atheist score lower than Muslim.

Atheists score lower than everyone on that test. More than half the county has an unfavorable (or very unfavorable) opinion of them.

I don't talk about my lack of religion very much since its just too easy to alienate people. My 11-year-old son asked me the other day if I believed and I answered him honestly. We were discussing if he believes (he's on the doubting end) but I had to explain to him that he *couldn't* talk about this with any member of my wife's family other than her.

As a constituency, there's nothing that atheists really want that's specific to atheism, except no religion in government, schools, etc., which they're already quite adept at using the legal system to achieve.

Because.... Who cares? There's nothing to appeal to atheists generally. I don't care what people believe; I just ask that you don't try to force/push your beliefs on others and have the State/Government help. Doesn't matter if you're atheist, Jewish, Christian, etc.

Ennuipoet:Because the country is 90% self identified theist and even the Democrats aren't dumb enough to embrace those percentages.

/Member of the Godless Untouchable Caste in America

It's really a good question. 90% of Americans are straight and those in the LGBT community generally vote dem already anyway. Yet the Democrats just incorporated a pro gay rights plank into their platform.

The question really is, do atheists as a whole want something? I mean sure, freedom to not be religious but that's already pretty well protected under the constitution. What atheist concerns aren't being addressed?

odinsposse:The question really is, do atheists as a whole want something? I mean sure, freedom to not be religious but that's already pretty well protected under the constitution. What atheist concerns aren't being addressed?

The right to cockpunch proselytizers who keep on trying after I tell them "believe me... you really don't want me at your bible study.. I bring citations."

We all know atheists cant be trusted with political power because they will get crap done. You know instead of anti-abortion bills, and anti-Sharia law bills, anti-women rights bills, anti-marriage equality bills, naming things after St. Reagan bills, paying private lawyers to defend unconstitutional laws and spending millions to investigate things not neraly close to a "shady deal".

odinsposse:The question really is, do atheists as a whole want something? I mean sure, freedom to not be religious but that's already pretty well protected under the constitution. What atheist concerns aren't being addressed?

The right to live in a country where the whole middle doesn't enact batshiat insane laws that attempt to drag the country into the stone age

Atheists by and far already vote for Democrats except for a few who vote Libertarian. Republicans have already set themselves up as the enemy of atheists by being pro-theocracy. As long as Democrats continue to fight that they have the atheist vote.

We atheists aren't bigots and don't vote on a politician's personal religious belief, but rather whether you intend to force your religious biases into law.

SnakeLee:I think it could happen but it would have to be for a local election in a super liberal district that like every atheist in the country donated money to

Even in my super liberal city, I'd have to fight to win if it became general knowledge I was an atheist. I'm still toying with the idea though. I'd almost have to move to a different ward to get elected.

Atheism is an absolutist view of the universe that cannot be logically-supported. There is no way to prove or disprove the existence of the supernatural, so to categorically deny that it exists or can exist is an irrational point of view. Atheists have that in common with the religious...an irrational point of view...a religious bias, so to speak.

omgbears:Seems like the term atheist doesn't really distinguish between the non-religious, and all those assholes that vehemently proclaim there is no God, and that you're an idiot for thinking otherwise.

canyoneer:Atheism is an absolutist view of the universe that cannot be logically-supported. There is no way to prove or disprove the existence of the supernatural, so to categorically deny that it exists or can exist is an irrational point of view. Atheists have that in common with the religious...an irrational point of view...a religious bias, so to speak.

And just like with people who are religious, if you keep it to yourself / don't hurt others, I don't care. Believe what you want.

Gwyrddu:We atheists aren't bigots and don't vote on a politician's personal religious belief, but rather whether you intend to force your religious biases into law.

We Theists aren't bigots and don't vote on a politician's personal anti-religious belief unless that individual intends to take away rights to service their bias.Hard Core Right Wingers place their prejudice before any belief or faith, don't confuse the two./though I'm sure some will still be determined to.

odinsposse:The question really is, do atheists as a whole want something? I mean sure, freedom to not be religious but that's already pretty well protected under the constitution. What atheist concerns aren't being addressed?

Exactly this. I don't know of any issues that only affect the atheist community. There's nothing to really rally around, and thats not a bad thing.

SnakeLee:I think it could happen but it would have to be for a local election in a super liberal district that like every atheist in the country donated money to

Peter Stark is an atheist congressman from California. Ernie Chambers is an atheist state senator from Nebraska of all places. So it is possible for atheists to get into office albeit still depressingly rare, but you certainly don't have to be an atheist to get my support though.

You know, I never considered trolling a bible study before. I probably wouldn't do it, because I'm too nice, but it's interesting to think about. "You think that's what this means? Well, turn to this chapter and verse and tell me how that contradiction works for you."

Kurmudgeon:Gwyrddu: We atheists aren't bigots and don't vote on a politician's personal religious belief, but rather whether you intend to force your religious biases into law.

We Theists aren't bigots and don't vote on a politician's personal anti-religious belief unless that individual intends to take away rights to service their bias.Hard Core Right Wingers place their prejudice before any belief or faith, don't confuse the two./though I'm sure some will still be determined to.

Can you name a single American politician that is currently trying to take away people's religious rights?

canyoneer:Atheism is an absolutist view of the universe that cannot be logically-supported. There is no way to prove or disprove the existence of the supernatural, so to categorically deny that it exists or can exist is an irrational point of view. Atheists have that in common with the religious...an irrational point of view...a religious bias, so to speak.

No one has ever been elected to a Federal office as an atheist, as far as I know. Only Pete Stark has ever even admitted to being one, and he did so after having served for 30 years when he was pretty well entrenched.

meat0918:Kurmudgeon: Gwyrddu: We atheists aren't bigots and don't vote on a politician's personal religious belief, but rather whether you intend to force your religious biases into law.

We Theists aren't bigots and don't vote on a politician's personal anti-religious belief unless that individual intends to take away rights to service their bias.Hard Core Right Wingers place their prejudice before any belief or faith, don't confuse the two./though I'm sure some will still be determined to.

Can you name a single American politician that is currently trying to take away people's religious rights?

canyoneer:Atheism is an absolutist view of the universe that cannot be logically-supported. There is no way to prove or disprove the existence of the supernatural, so to categorically deny that it exists or can exist is an irrational point of view. Atheists have that in common with the religious...an irrational point of view...a religious bias, so to speak.

You are describing gnostic atheism. Most atheists are agnostic atheists.

DamnYankees:odinsposse: The question really is, do atheists as a whole want something? I mean sure, freedom to not be religious but that's already pretty well protected under the constitution. What atheist concerns aren't being addressed?

Exactly this. I don't know of any issues that only affect the atheist community. There's nothing to really rally around, and thats not a bad thing.

I don't think theists are too worried about maintaining a separation of church/state.

canyoneer:Atheism is an absolutist view of the universe that cannot be logically-supported. There is no way to prove or disprove the existence of the supernatural, so to categorically deny that it exists or can exist is an irrational point of view. Atheists have that in common with the religious...an irrational point of view...a religious bias, so to speak.